Where do ticks live: on grass or on trees? - briefly
Ticks mainly inhabit low vegetation such as grass, moss, and leaf litter where humidity and host traffic are high. They are seldom found on tree trunks or high branches because those locations lack suitable conditions.
Where do ticks live: on grass or on trees? - in detail
Ticks are obligate ectoparasites that require a humid microenvironment for survival and questing activity. Their distribution across habitats reflects the need to encounter suitable hosts while maintaining adequate moisture.
Ground vegetation, especially low‑lying grasses and leaf litter, provides the highest humidity levels and the greatest density of small mammals such as rodents. These conditions support all life stages—egg, larva, nymph, and adult—by reducing desiccation risk and offering frequent host contact.
Shrubs, low branches, and the undersides of leaves also host ticks, particularly during warmer periods when ground humidity declines. Arboreal surfaces higher than one meter are less frequently occupied, but some species climb into the canopy to reach birds or larger mammals that browse foliage.
Key environmental factors influencing habitat choice include:
- Relative humidity above 80 % at the micro‑scale level
- Temperature range of 7–30 °C, with optimal questing at 15–25 °C
- Presence of host species appropriate to each developmental stage
- Vegetation density that creates a protective boundary layer
Seasonal variations shift tick activity between ground and low vegetation. In spring and early summer, questing on grasses peaks, while late summer may see increased presence on shrubbery as ground moisture diminishes.
«Ticks are ectoparasites that require a humid microenvironment». Consequently, the majority of tick populations are found on herbaceous plants and leaf litter, with limited but notable activity on low‑lying woody vegetation.